Floating skimmer



Filed Aug. e; 19:5 Ys sheets-sheet s '.IHIHIW 34 which is itself driven by an electric motor 35. A pocketed wheel 36 driven also by the reduction gearing 34 engages an endless chain 31, which lies in the overflow trough 2 and passes upwardly about a roller or sheave 38 carried in the lower end of a hollow arm 39. By this means when the pocketed wheel rotates the conveying assembly pulls itself about the tank, using the chain as a traction means.

In' the form here shown in Figures 1 and 2 in general and in detail in Figures 3 and 4, the scum conveyor floats upon the liquid. The conveyor comprises two wooden or otherV buoyant members 48, and a third intermediate-buoyant member 4|.

An idler sprocket 42 is carried at one end'of the scum conveyor upon take-up bearings 43. At the opposite end is positioned a bearing 44 Awithin which a shaft 45 is journaled. This shaft carries at its lower end a driving sprocket 46. A chain 41 engages the sprockets 4I and 46 and carries outwardly extendingfiights 48.

Tol the outer or free end of the shaft 32 is i attached a universal joint 49 through which a shortshaft 50 is driven. This shaft carries a beveled gear 5I which meshes with a second beveled gear 52 on theshaft 45. The beveled gears 5l and 52 and the shaft 50 are furnished bearing and held in position by a yoke 53. Through the gearing just described rotation ofthe shaft 32 drives the sprocket' 46 and thus drives the chain and the skimmer flights. If necessary to increase oradjust the buoyancy of the floating skimmer, one or more floats 54 may be provided.

The floating skimmer conveys the scum which collects at the surface of the liquid in the tank toward the scum baflle 4. The collected scum may be removed from the tank in any desired manner and by any desired mechanism. No particular mechanism is here shown for removing the collected scum from the tank. This may be done by hand or' by any suitable mechanism, automatic or otherwise. No such mechanism is illustrated herewith because its details form no' part of the present invention, which is concerned with the sludge and scum collecting and conveying mechanism butis not concerned with the details of the final scum removal from the tank after its collection. To `assist inV moving scum to the point of removal and to assist in ycollecting it, a guide or sweep 61 issupported at one endas at 68 upon the floating vskimmer and is supported elsewhere upon an arm 69 attached to the skimmer. It carries at its outer lend a -wiping portion which maybe of rubber or other yielding material and which contactsl the scum baille 4.

'To'assist in movingV the scum gathered by the flights' and collecting it in a pocket formed by the sweep 61 and baffle 4, a water or air spray means may be provided. This means comprises a spray pipe 1|, carried on a support 12 from the bridge l1. `Water when used is supplied to the pipe 13 from a pump 14 which has an intake pipe 15 extending downwardly into the liquid within the tank. A motor 16 `may be provided to drive the pump or the pump may be driven from the motor 35I by additional gearing.

The floating skimmer is towed, about the tank by the bridge assembly, as it moves. The driving means for this is the chain 41 of the iloating skimmer which constitutes a connection between the skimmer float and the bridge. Thus the shaft 32, universal joint 49, the shaft50, yoke 53 and shaft 45 comprise a connection, between the iloat and the bridge so that as the bridge moves the vfloat is thus attached to the bridge at a point separate from the .transmission above described and lswinging and misalignment is prevented. If a the tank is to be emptied ordinarily the chain 18 will be detached from the stop 11. The upper end of the shaft 45, see Figures 3 and 4,1is squared as at 19 and the beveled gear 52 slides over the squaredl portion of thev shaft and is carried in the yoke 53 and is held in it by a collar 80 and a set screw 8l. The t of the squared portion 19 within the squared perforation in the beveled gear 52 is free enough so that as liquid is withdrawn from the tank and the floating skimmer assembly thus sinks, the portion 19 of the shaft 45 merely slips out of engagement with the beveled gear 52 and the skimmer assembly thus automatically disconnects itself fromfits drive and floats downward with the liquid. When the tank is refilled the assembly floats up again on the liquid :surface and is guided by the operator so that the portion 19 of the shaft 45 again enters the squared perforation in the beveled gear 52 and the parts are again in position to be driven. The chain 18 is again reattached and the parts are in position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and ready for operation. If for any reason it is 'desired to have the gear 52 attached to the shaft 45 so that the two do not readily pull apart, then some part of the transmission, for example the universal joint 49,

will be detached and then as the yliquid is discharged from the tank the floating skimmer assembly merely floats downward with the liquid yand rests upon the bottom if the tankls completely emptied. When the tank is refilled, the skimmer floats upward until it reaches the position generally indicated in Figure 2 and in that position the universal joint andthe chain are again connected and the complete assembly is in position for use.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

In the form of the invention illustrated, the liquid to be treated with whatever solids it may carry is introduced into the tank `through the vmember 1. Ordinarily some solids within the body of liquid will settle toward the bottom of the tank and some scum which may be composed of light solids or a mixture of solids and gases which cause them to float accumulates at or near the upper surface of the liquid. In order to collect the material at the bottom of the tank for withdrawal from the tank, the conveying assembly comprising the frame I4, the bridge I1 and the drivingeand conveying parts which they carry, is

driven around the tank by the engagement of the chain 31 with the pocketed wheel 36. The movement of the assembly about thev tank is ordinarily very slow.

lAs the assembly moves about the tank the plow 20 moves the materialatiand near the bottom of the tank ahead of it, the assembly moving in the direction of the full arrow in Figure 1. At the vsame time the conveyor made up of the chains and the ghts 28 is driven, moving in the direction of the arrow in Figure `2, andthus movesmaterial toward the sludge trough 9. Thus :the bottom*offfthetankisfswept bywtheplow` 2l)` 1 "and thematerialthus swept up and fengaged by 1; flightsfofg thejconveyor 2B is; movedtowiaird` and ciischarged` into1;`the,.sludgefhopper from which `it 'is `rmioved throughthe connection` "1.11 1 fxlnthelformof the inventiongshownfthe con- Surfaceland thus tl'iefflightswd1 on :thefychain' 4,1

` ofthe noatmgskimmenwhiharepartiauy above fandpartiallyllbelow the surfaceof; the liquid pickv Y up Fand 1carry th`e1z1jscu`m-which.` they f1 encounter;

Tneskimming conveyor moves in thevdirectionof 15ithabrokenlarrowin Figurel `and jthus moves the `bpartly by thedniemberf'l carrying'the wiper 10.

hereu shown, or itgmaly` betdischarged `byhand, liforfexample, `-by `IbeingQ(.iipped-out. s, Thei conveyor 1; scum toward the scumfbailiezf andthe member. B1

malsolassists `injwashing the scum 1`free1-fr1om the flights-and toward the scum baille.1 Thereis .thus

removdj byianygdesired means! 1 the result isto provide. means`, namely; :the scum itheoverflow trongh 2,1y andto providezadditional '9;rneans,1`rst forl remoyingthe .scurn from the sur-Y 1 faoeuof` they liquid, andfiforacOlIectinglt, which 1 mansjmay comprise themovingaconveyonll,,48 and the" member1 61; -1 The 'scumjis thusremoved 1 1 )retained andfinallyjdischargedgv intoa 4gscum 1 troug.1 or otherwise" removed from the1tank.1

1- i1, i In combination w surface ofthe liquid within1 theftanki,l'said` means i comprising `a skimmingffvmchanism andan elonby 1 `flotation iri the liquid, said skimming mechanism including-fa conveyor adapted to move longitudinally in `"front or the ffloatingwmeans` and in comprisinglaskimming mechanism andan elon-1` i 1 gatedfloatingfmeans :thereforto support the same 1 lby otationlin"theliquid,*saidLskimming mechanlsrnincluding ascumesweeping partiand a `conveyor; adapted to*` move iongitudinauyin rrontof with;tneiongitudinal; axis` thereof.` 1 1 323 Incornbination lwith, a tank adapted to `re-- il surface of thefliquidwithin the tank, said means comprisingia i skimming mechanism :and an `elongated Boating means therefor `to support the same 1 `vtyor assemblyjustzdescribed hasljoinedyto it a e ejskimmerwhich,oats`on`the surfaceof the liquid;1

" partsioffitgo coursa` project;y slightly `below lthe fscumtoward thewscum'baflle1.` By; 1 i;hismeans i 1 withinA tlieztank" and lcauseci;y to. collect at or 'near 1 s 1 "vesfeooiltlltoe1tank 1 his gatheredscum is collected;` retained alndjcar-` [riedzjalong Ypartly wby `the l floating ,skimmer and 1The scum `so1collectedvand retained may be dis.` 1 `chargedvinto1 aj scum. trough-,of ,any-desired type, 3

ormed betweenfthe scumLbaiilefdyandthe-collect ng'membreriGl axscurn` trap or retaininglpocket ntowhichthe scum is moved or forced, and with- 1 1` in which itl isicollected and retained `untilqit` is j 1 1 rWh'ateverl the `fcirm of the invention, in general `lozllllew, for preventing* scum 1 1from l fiowingflinto 1 Lfrointhe entiresuria'ce ofth'e liquid; Ais collectedg" *gated *floating means therefor `izo-support the same "generalparalle1ismz withfthelongitudinal axis 1 1 o i 11 i i 1 driven sludge conveyor, a generally continuously if-fthe' "floating jvmeans and in general parallelism i `to a` concentration point,` 1 Vceive liquid, means `for; removing 1 scum -1 from :the

by 'notenoof i the inuid, said skirrimuinech-f paraueiyvini fthe nioyngimeurml axis thereof@ af directiontoward the, circumferenceoithe tank. `4;;,llnm comhinatiorilwith a `unitary circulartank,

means s for, introdncing,` liquid tof it and means, in#` cludinga skinnnergforremoving scufmuand `solids lfrom the `LupperV surface ,of the` liquid within the 1 'Pankiaseccnd 'oorfsweeping means for collecting 1 .conveying carrier'about the tankQjsaidcarrier ,sweepinglz conveyor `means,.1s"aid scum conveyor sonas 'fromtiie upper; and lower suigsfaees or the pody oi liquid 1 within the tank, 1 said means com'- prisingjla conveying carrleruniounted within the tank, andimeans' fornmovinlgsaid conveying car- Vrierabout thelltank,said'carrier carrying a'plow anda sludge conveyormountcd to movealong the 1 troducing "liquidatoA '1a-Rand ,means `for removing eoiid's `fronofthe bottom ofthe body of liquid within 1 1 e1thevtank, anda third meansfor removing settled i 1 solidsiromthefloer of the tank,"v`and a .conveying l carrier, ,said `several means `'mounted enpon fsai'd 1 conveyingncarrienand means for revolving said `1 floor ofthe tank, a generally continually moving I veyor 1 carrier, the two conveyors being both ,of

themlirnovablelwlth respect to the1 conveying 1 `carrier 1and means formoving `them 4infa ldirection s I transverseftotiie line ,of movement ofi'thecarrier itha" tank adapted 5to re-f J ceive liquid; meansfor removing scum: from the mountedwwithin the tank, and means forl moving scumwcnveyoradjacent theeup'per, Vsurface'pdf the f liquid, saidjs'cum conveyoncomprlsing chains, nights s and 1 means l :for` driving the cli'ains, land 1 adapted to move lmaterial floatingfat the `upper s surface ofwtheii'quid toward the periphery of the tank,r axeddischarge inthe bottom ofthe' "tank s s receivingvmaterial `from the floor sweeping 1 con;-

4, 16.7In co bination with a tankfmeans troducin sewageKand liquid waste to itsand f meansvfor 1removing solids-"from the uppeifand iowa-surfaces Aoftheliody of liquid within the tank, said;` means comprising a conveyorr carrier plow andagenerally continuously `movil/ig power Y `moving power driven conveyorladjacent the sur-` moving,theconveyorlaterallywith respect vtol-the 1 movementof the conveyorcarriertopropelscum .7.' InA combinationv with .a` tank, means `for `inftroducirigl` sewage and liquid" waste ,to it and 1 means *for ,removing solids from the` upper s and? 1 lower surfaces `of thefbodryllof` liquid Within the cnf A tank, said means comprising a conveying carrier mounted within the tank',`and means for moving said conveying carrier `about the tank, said carrier carrying adjacent its bottom a plow, and a moving sludge conveyor` mounted on `the carrier to move along the bottom of the tank, a generally continuously moving scum conveyor adjacentthe surface of the liquid carried rby the conveying carrier, and provided withy a positive power means whereby it is Adriven independent of vthe movement of the conveying carrier to move material toward the periphery of the tank for discharge at the'edge of the tank, a fixed discharge in `the bottom `of the tank receiving material from said rst mentioned conveyor, and

a float carrying said scum conveyor adjacenty the surface of the liquid.

8. In combination with a. tank,means for introducing 'sewage and liquid waste to it and means for removing solidsfrom'the' upper and lower surfaces v of thebody of 'liquid within the tank, said means' comprising a conveying assembly mounted within the tank,fand means for moving said conveying assembly about the tank, said assembly carrying adjacent its bottom a plow, and a moving sludge conveyorgmounted on the assemblyvto move along the bottom of the tank, a generally continuously moving scum conveyor adjacent the surfaceofthe liquid carried by the conveying assembly and provided with a positive powcr means whereby it is driven independent of thc `movement of the conveying assembly to move material Vtoward thel periphery of the tank for discharge at the 'edge of the tank, and unitary means for driving 'both of said conveyors, a fixed discharge in the bottom of the tank receiving material from said first mentioned conveyor, and a float carrying `said scum rconveyor adjacent the surface of the liquid.

` tank to convey material away from its periphery,

a generally continuously moving scum conveyor adjacent the surface of the liquid carried by the conveying assembly and providedwith a positive power means whereby it is driven independent of i the movement of the conveyingassembly in a 'direction to move materialtoward the periphery of the tank for discharge at the edge of the tank, and unitary means for driving-both of said conveyors,a fixed discharge in the bottom of the tank receiving material from "said first mentioned conveyor.

10. In combination with a tank, means for introducing sewage and liquid waste to it and means for removing solids from the upper and lower surfaces ofthe body of liquid within the tank, said means comprising a conveyingcarrier mounted within the tank, and means for moving said conveying carrier about the tank, said carrier including a moving scum collector adjacent the surface of-the liquid, said scum vcollector including an elongated member floatingupon the liquid and attached to the conveying carrier for v movement with it, and a flightconveyor mounted upon said floating member forv longitudinal movement with respect thereto in a direction generally transverse tothe line of movement of the float, and means for driving'said flight conveyor. 1

11. In combination with a tank, means for introducing sewage and liquid ywaste to it 'and means for removing solids from the upper and lower surfaces of thebody of liquidwithin the tank, said means' comprising a conveying carrier mounted within the tank, and means for moving said conveying carriery about the tank, said carrier adjacent its bottom carrying a plow and a moving vconveyor driven-to .move along the bottom of the tank, and a surfacel scum conveyor comprising an elongated member floating upon the liquid and attached tothe carrier for move# ment with it, and unitary means for driving both of said conveyors, a fixed discharge in thebottom of the tank receiving material from said first mentioned bottom conveyor, the scum conveyor comprising chains and flights and being mounted for movement along a line generally parallel` with the longitudinal axis of the floating member and across the llineof movement of such member, and means for drivingfit. l y

. 12. Incombination with a tank, means for in'- troducing sewage. and'liquidV waste to it and means for removing solids from the upper and lower surfaces of the body of liquid within the tank, said means comprising a conveying assembly mounted within the tank, and means for moving said conveying assembly about the'tank, said assembly including adjacent its bottom a plow, and a moving conveyor and means to drive it to move along the bottom of the tank to convey material towards the tank center, and a scum conveyor mounted adjacent the surface of the liquid lfor movement with respect to said assembly, and means to drive it continuously to move material on or near the surface of the vliquid toward the periphery of the tank for 'discharge atthe edge of the tank, said scum conveyor including also a member floating upon the liquid and attached to the assembly for movement with it, the scum, conveyor being mounted upon the floating member, and a fixeddischarge in the bottom of the tank receiving material from said first mentioned conveyor.

13. In combination with a tank, means for introducing sewage and liquid waste to it and means for removing solids from the upper and lower surfaces of the body of liquid within the tank, said means comprising a conveying assembly mounted within the tank, and imeans for moving said conveying assembly about the tank,

said assembly including adjacent its bottomV a i plow, and a moving conveyor and means to drive itto move along the bottom of the tank to convey material towards the tank center, and a scum conveyor mounted adjacent the surface of the liquid for movement with respect to said assembly, and means to drive it continuously to move material on or near the surface of the liquid toward the periphery of the tank for discharge at the edge of the tank, said scum conveyor including a member floating upon the liquid and attached to the assembly formovement with it, the scum conveyor being mounted upon the floatingV member and a unitary actuating means for driving both of said conveyors, a fixed discharge in the bottom of the tank receiving material from said rst mentioned conveyor, and a flexible driving connection between the unitary driving means and the scum conveyor whereby the conveyor is driven by such drivingmeans irrespective of its position with relation to the conveying assembly.

Cil

` discharging it. into the *sludge hopper,` aframe `the tank, a connectionbetween said? floatj'and the `framewhereby"the iloat moves with `the frame; la scum conveyor on the oat and means for driving n fframe, saidmeans includingfa driving connection lf n between it and the `drivingmeans on, the frame "whereby the scum conveyor independent `of the movement of the float propels scum laterally and `concentrates it adjacent one end of the float.

discharging it i'ntoi` the "sludgeI hopper, `a frame projecting upwardly from the sludge collecting i n means `above the surface of the liquid inthe tank,

drive i means thereon; adapted to lpropelyvtsaid n frame jandthe sludgecollecting means alongthe Htankyoor, ya float on the surfaceof the `liquid :driving said conveyor irrespective `of movement Y of saidjframe, saidmeans including a, driving conl n `nectionv between itand the driving means `on the f n [ing influentand eliluent apertures ,and asludge hopper, means forcollecting` settled sludgefand .gprojectingiupwardly from the, sludge` collectingA 'n means above ,the surface of the liquid in thetank `drive means thereon adapted topropel said frame and `tlf'lesludge collecting `means along the tankv nfloor, a'float on thesuriace of the liquid'within said i conveyorfirrespective t of Vmovement .of` said' i withintheftanmaconnection between said float and the `frame wherebythe oat moves `with the, i fram,a scumconveyoron theflojat` and rneans'forr of the movement of thevoat propels scum latercollecting-means and means for moving `itrto if propel sludge in a direction opposite to the direction of propulsion of the scum-L1! frame whereby the scum conveyorindependent ,16;v In'combinatiom a sedimentation tanll:` havn ing iniluent and eluent apertures and a `sludge `hoppenmeansfor collecting settled sludgelvand dischargingit intol the sludge hopper, a frame @projecting upwardlyl4 from the `sludge collecting means above the surface of `theliquid in the tank,

drive meansthereon adapted to propel said frame 4and thesludge collecting meansjalong theftank- Y floor, a float'on the surfaceof the liquidwithin `the tank, alconnectionv between said float andthe i frame whereby thefloat moves withl the frame, 1x5. In combination, a sedimentation tank having inflilentfandeiuent apertures and a sludge hopperjmeans for collecting settled sludge `andv a scum conveyor on the float and means for driving said conveyor irrespective of` the movementof i said frame, said means including a driving con1 nection between it and theldrivingmeans on the the connections between the float and the frame and between the drive means and the scum conl veyor being flexible to permit operation irrespectiveof minor changes of relative positions of the GEORGE il. MOREHEAD.V y

I frame whereby the scum conveyor independent of` n the movement of the float propels scum laterally andconoentrates it adjacent one end of the float, i 

